Reliable information has reached Mr J. Butcher, Photographer, Union Street, of the death of his son Frank – a Gunner – killed in France last week by a shell. Both the Regimental Chaplain and the deceased soldier’s Captain have written to the bereaved family and the chaplain has also written to the Vicar of Leyland, the Rev. F. E. Hutchinson, on the matter. Gunner Butcher was in his 26th year. He joined the army voluntarily about a year ago. At that time he was a tackler in a mill at Manchester, where he had lived about four years. CHORLEY WEEKLY NEWS - 11 August 1917

Official intimation has been received of the death from wounds of Gunner Frank Butcher, Royal Garrison Artillery, whose home was 12 Union Street. Deceased was 25 years of age and worked at Read and Walls Mill, Leyland. CHORLEY GUARDIAN AND LEYLAND HUNDRED ADVERTISER - Saturday 25 August 1917

Charles O'DonnellPlease email the project with any amendments or corrections Published 27 April 2017

SourcesWWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 via Ancestry.co.uk / British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 via Ancestry.co.uk / Commonwealth War Graves Commission / UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919 via Ancestry.co.uk / Original work by William Waring, Leyland Historical Society